RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

RCIA

Children will be placed in class on a “first come, first served” basis. Latecomers may have to be placed on a “waiting list”. Families registering children after August 30^th are expected to pay a $20 late fee per child.

A family must already be registered as members of the parish before children can be registered for R. E. classes. Parish registration forms (census forms) are in church on the table across from the baptismal fonts.

The R. E. registration form includes the option to have your child either receive VIRTUS’ Touching Safety Program at home by you (“Opt-Out”) 

OR  in a class room situation (“Opt-In”).

Materials will be provided at registration time for you to use at home if you checked “Opt-Out” or “Opt-In”. The general theme of the program is to teach  a child to say “No! To Go and Tell. (Say no; go away from the person; tell an adult.)

UN-BAPTIZED CHILDREN SEVEN YEARS OR OLDER

Children who have not been baptized and are seven years of age or older will be expected to attend extra classes, at an other time in addition  to Sunday morning classes. Parents of such children will be expected to help, especially in memorizing prayers.

FIRST COMMUNION  FOR BAPTIZED CHILDREN OLDER THAN SEVEN YEARS

Baptized children who are older than seven years and have not made their First Communion will be assigned to the same grade that they attend at public or private school. EXCEPT FOR 2^ND GRADERS WHO WILL BE PLACED IN FIRST GRADE Religious  Education class. They may be expected to attend a special class at an other time in addition  to Sunday morning classes. Parents of such children will be expected to help, especially in memorizing prayers, the ten commandments and sacraments. A copy of your child’s Baptismal certificate should be submitted as soon as possible, definitely before December 1st. Call me if you need the church of Baptism’s phone number.

REQUIREMENT 1: Children must have memorized these by February 1^st  or they will be asked to wait a year for reception of these sacraments: confession (to be completed by the end of February] and First  Communion. Children cannot make their first Confession unless they know these. They cannot make their First Communion unless they make their First Confession. First Confessions will be heard by Father during February.

REQUIREMENT 2: A copy of your child’s Baptismal certificate should be submitted as soon as possible, definitely before December 1st. Call me if you need the church of baptism’s phone number.

FIRST COMMUNION

Children in second grade, who will be preparing for First Reconciliation and First Communion, must have faithfully attended first grade religious instruction. This means that sacramental preparation is a two year program. Parents of such children will be expected to help, especially in memorizing prayers, the ten commandments and sacraments .

REQUIREMENT 1:Children must have memorized these by February 1^st  or they will be asked to wait a year for reception of these sacraments: confession and First Communion. Children cannot make their first Confession unless they know these. They cannot make their FirstCommunion unless they make their First Confession. First Confessions will be heard by Father during February.

REQUIREMENT 2: A copy of your child’s Baptismal certificate should be submitted as soon as possible, definitely before December 1st. Call me if you need the church of Baptism’s phone #. A copy is unnecessary if your child was baptized here at Our Lady of Lourdes.

FIRST COMMUNION MASS

For English speaking children, the Mass will be on Sunday,  May 4th at 10:00AM. For Spanish speaking children, the Mass will be on Sunday, May 4^th at the 12:00PM  Spanish Mass. Only children who have by that time faithfully attended classes, memorized their prayers and made their First Confession, will be qualified to receive their First Communion.

CONFIRMATION

Children in eighth grade who will be preparing for Confirmation must have faithfully attended  seventh grade religious instruction. This means that sacramental preparation for Confirmation is a two year program.  Children should be in 8^th grade or high school and have attained the age of 13 years. Parents of such children will be expected to help, especially in memorizing prayers, the ten commandments and the sacraments.  These children are expected to complete 20 hours of church or community service or some other charitable acts. Each child is to make an examination of conscience and go to confession with his/her class well before the day of Confirmation. Each child is to have a sponsor who is an active Catholic and 18 years of age or older. A copy of your child’s Baptismal certificate should be submitted as soon as possible, definitely before December 1st. Call me if you need the church of Baptism’s phone #.  A copy is unnecessary if your child was baptized here at Our Lady of Lourdes. A date for the Confirmation Mass has not yet been assigned by the bishop.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Children are expected to attend every class unless ill or out of town. We want every student in the program to have a successful and positive experience and to receive a complete, well-rounded religious education. Students should attend all scheduled classes to ensure continuity of information and formation. Random and inconsistent attendance diminishes the class dynamic and makes it difficult for the teacher to plan lessons that build on material covered in previous lessons. We ask that parents make a commitment for their children to regularly attend at all classes and activities. Good attendance makes it possible to grasp religious concepts and to foster a sense of "belonging" to the parish community. Parents are expected to cover the material with their children when a class is missed. 

Each teacher keeps attendance records.

We expect parents, to give their child’s teacher the courtesy of an excuse note (on the Sunday following an absence ) explaining the reason for their child’s absence.

ADVANCEMENT TO THE NEXT GRADE

Advancement to the next grade may be refused for any child who misses four classes or more without excuse notes explaining the absences or without acceptable explanations.

PUNCTUALITY (Arriving late for class)

Children should be in the classroom and settled before class starts at 8:30AM. If children come late, they disrupt the class and miss part of their faith training. Three “tardies” are considered the equivalent of one absence.

A PARENT’S DUTY TO EDUCATE CHILDREN

Your child’s growth in faith depends upon you. Without your commitment, your child will not mature into a Catholic Christian. By having your child baptized, you assumed spiritual obligations.

During the Baptism ceremony of your child, the priest pointed out the responsibilities of parents:

• “You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so, you are accepting the responsibility of training him/her in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him/her up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?”
• The parents respond, “We do.” (Rite of Baptism, paragraph # 77).

You cannot reasonably instill religious beliefs, practices or values unless they are a part of your life. If you are not practicing your faith, it will be noted by your child and will reflect on his/her performance and attitude.

By enrolling your child in the Our Lady of Lourdes Religious Education program, you are showing that you are taking your responsibility seriously. Also, the example that you give to your child in your home and by your family’s weekly attendance at Mass will have a lasting influence on him/her.

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM CHILDREN

• Be on time for class
• Bring class material to each session
• Follow directions
• Complete assignments on time
• Take part in activities and discussion
• Respect teachers and  students
• Follow class rules

CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR/ATTITUDE/DISCIPLINE

Children should show respect to their teachers and classmates and exercise proper self-control. Teachers should be addressed by their title: Mr., Mrs., Miss, etc. Children should respond courteously, without comments, signs, or bad language.

Children are expected to display a Christian attitude and avoid behavior that disturbs the classroom.

DRESS CODE

Students are expected to wear appropriate and modest clothing. No halter tops, tube tops, tattoos, or body piercing (other than earrings for girls).

PRAYER

Each R. E. class period will begin and end with prayer. Parents, as the primary teachers of their children, are expected to help their children memorize certain prayers. Those prayers should include: the “Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…Apostles Creed, and Act of Contrition”. Many of these prayers are on the inside of the front and back cover of your child’s R. E. workbook. A laminated Prayer card will be provided to each child in 1^st through 8^th grade.

CLASS WORKBOOKS ARE “CHRIST OUR LIFE” SERIES BY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY PRESS -
SEE BELOW.

PURPOSE AND GOALS OF OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

• To provide a program of religious instruction to the school age children of our parish.
• To give children a strong foundation in living the Gospel of Jesus.
• To instill a Christian formation consistent with the basic traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church and Sacred Scriptures.
• To help the children grow in the awareness, knowledge and practice of their faith, including values, morals,  prayer, love of God and neighbor and knowledge and love of Christ, Mary and the saints.
• To support parents in their role as the primary teachers of the Faith.
• To help in the sacramental preparation of children for the reception of these sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.

 YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER

Our religious education program is manned by faith-filled, parent volunteers. Please show your appreciation to these people who have given of their time and talent to help your children in their faith formation.

Lastly, Parents should CHECK THAT their CHILD HAS HIS/HER WORKBOOK AND PEN OR PENCIL BEFORE LEAVING HOME FOR R.E. CLASS. Check your child’s folder to see if there are note to parents, homework, etc.

REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND/OR CONFIRMATION  

1.    If your child was not baptized at Our Lady of Lourdes, you must supply a photocopy of your child’s Baptism certificate, o your child’s teacher or Tom McHugh by December 1^st.

2.    Children must attend most of the religious education classes that specifically prepare them for reception of the sacrament. If they miss three or more times without an acceptable excuse, they risk waiting until next school year.

3.    The child’s family must be formally registered in the parish via the “census” or “Panilla de Censo” cards.

4.    Children and their families are expected to be active Catholics by attending Mass every weekend.

5.    Children must have memorized common Catholic prayers before receiving one of these sacraments. Parents are expected to help them (by frequent repetition) memorize “the Sign of the Cross”, “the Hail Mary”, the “Our Father”, “the Act of Contrition”, “the Glory be…” etc.  These prayers are to be found on the inside front and back covers of their R. E. workbooks. They are also on the laminated “Prayer card” each child has received.

6.    Children must memorize the Ten Commandments and the Seven Sacraments. Parents are expected to help.

7.    Children have to do an examination of conscience and go to confession  with their class before receiving First Communion or Confirmation.

8.    All children are expected to grow in knowledge of the Catholic Faith and apply themselves in the classroom.

9.    Children receiving the sacrament of Confirmation must select an adult who is an active Catholic (18 years old or older) to be their sponsor.